1
: characterized by brain death
2
: lacking intelligence or vitality
brain-dead fools

Examples of brain-dead in a Sentence

it seems like she's always doing some brain-dead thing or another
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
There are circumstances in which a patient who isn’t brain-dead may still become an organ donor. Jen Christensen, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024 Especially in the earlier games, saving was heavily restricted, and progress could be easily lost—one brain-dead stumble can set you back an hour. Gabriel Winslow-Yost, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 In 2013, when a 13-year-old girl, Jahi McMath, underwent surgery, her heart stopped and, two days later, doctors declared her brain-dead. Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 4 Oct. 2024 Also, unnatural herds of crabs roam the land, and a brain-dead patient who’s about to have his organs harvested suddenly revives on the operating table. Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brain-dead 

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain-dead was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near brain-dead

Cite this Entry

“Brain-dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain-dead. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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